Exposure controls for cameras



April 30, 1963 Filed May 16, 1961 Fig.2

A- WINKLER ETAL EXPOSURE CONTROLS FOR CAMERAS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 a W H 721- 22 65 59 I a4 IN V EN TORS ALFRED WINKLER GERD KIPER mv-w- -v April30, 1963 A. WINKLER ETAL EXPOSURE CONTROLS FOR CAMERAS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed May 16, 1961 INVENTORS BY ALFRED WINKLER GERD KIPER W S. m

April 30, 1963 A. WINKLER ETAL EXPOSURE CONTROLS FOR CAMERAS 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 16, 1961 IN V EN TORS ALFRED WINKLER GEKD KIPERApril 1963 A. WINKLER ETAL 3,087,396

EXPOSURE CONTROLS FOR CAMERAS Filed May 16, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTORS ALFRED WINKLER BY GERD KIPER W 8.

United States Patent 3,087,396 EXPQSURE CGNTROELS FOR CAMERAS AifredWinhler and Gerd Kiper, both of Munich, Germany, assignors to AgfaAktiengeselischaft, Leverkusen- Bayerwerk, Germany Filed May 16, 1961,Ser. No. 116,496 Claims priority, application Germany May 27, 1%!) 17Claims. (Cl. 51ii) The present invention relates to cameras.

At the present time there are fully automatic cameras as well asso-called semi-automatic cameras. The fully automatic cameras are ofconsiderable advantage in that they allow exposures to be made quiterapidly without the operator concerning himself with the setting of thecamera for a particular exposure time or a particular exposure aperture.However, such fully automatic cameras suffer from the disadvantage ofproviding no choice as to the combination of exposure time and exposureaperture. Thus,- for some subjects it will be desirable to combine thesmallest possible exposure aperture with the exposure time, while forother subjects it will be desirable to have the shortest possibleexposure time, and such a choice is not available with a fully automaticcamera. The semiautomatic cameras do provide such choice, but while theyhave the advantage of giving a choice of the combination of exposuretime and exposure aperture they suffer from the disadvantage ofrequiring a considerable time to make an exposure. Thus, with suchcameras it is necessary for the operator to manually set the exposuretime and/ or the exposure aperture until a pair of reference elements,one of which may be stationary in the form of a stationary index, forexample, are brought into alignment, and these operations do not enablethe operator to make rapid exposures.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide acamera which will present the advantages of both of the above-discussedtypes of cameras. Thus, the camera of the invention is capable ofproviding on the one hand a choice of combinations of exposure time andexposure aperture and on the other hand the camera of the invention mayalso be operated in a fully automatic manner so as to provide rapidexposures when desired.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a camera whichon the one hand will be operated either as a semi-automatic camera or afully automatic camera, and which on the other hand provides a widerange of exposure times including a B-setting where the operator canmanually determine the exposure time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a camera of theabove type wherein manually operable elements are locked againstoperation when the camera is set to operate automatically.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a relativelysimple compact structure composed of a relatively small number ofelements which are capable of cooperating in a fully reliable manner toproduce the above objects.

With the above objects in view the invention includes, in a camera, anexposure time control means and a diaphragm means. A manually operableexposure time setting means is available for manually setting theexposure time control means, and a manually operable diaphragm settingmeans is available for manually setting the diaphragm means. Inaddition, an automatic means cooperates with the exposure time controlmeans to set the exposure time automatically and with the diaphragmmeans to set the diaphragm means automatically. The camera includes ameter which is responsive to the lighting conditions and a pointer meanswhich is moved by the meter to a position which is indicative of thelighting conditions. A manually releasable scanning means is providedfor ice scanning the position of the pointer means, and this scanningmeans, when released by the operator, will automatically move to aposition determined by the pointer means so that the scanning meansassumes a position which is also indicative of the lighting conditions.A transmission means is actuated by the scanning means and cooperateswith the automatic means to actuate the latter automatically for settingthe camera in a fully automatic manner. The camera further includes areference member and a differential means which is actuated by both ofthe manually operable means and which cooperates with the referencemember for bringing the pointer means and the reference member intoalignment during actuation by the operator of either one or both of themanually operable means, so that in this way a So-called semi-automaticoperation is provided.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a camera according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 1 inthe direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective illustration of the elements which arearranged along the optical axis for setting the exposure time and theexposure aperture either manually or automatically;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective illustration of another embodiment ofan assembly for providing a semiautomatic or fully automatic camera;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary illustration of a releasable lock means whichmaintains a manually operable element against operation when the camerais set to operate automatically; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary exploded perspective illustration of a thirdembodiment of elements arranged along the optical axis for providingsemi-automatic or fully automatic operation.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown therein a camerahousing 1 which carries at its upper part a cap member 2 within which ishoused various elements such as the viewfinder, the range finder, andthe structure for measuring the light intensity. The camera housingcarries in a well known way a shutter 3 as well as an inner tube 4 whichcarries the lenses of the objective, and also the camera housing fixedlycarries an exterior tube 5 whose axis coincides with the optical axis.

Within the upper portion of the camera housed by the cap 2 is located astationary plate 6 which is fixedly carried by the upper wall of thecamera housing 1 and which forms a support means supporting a meter 7for turning movement in its entirety. This meter 7 is an electricalinstrument having a rotary coil and may be a galvanometer which in awell known manner is electrically connected with a photoelectric cell orother lightsensitive structure so that the rotor of the electricalinstrument 7 will turn to a position indicative of lighting conditions,as is well known in the art. The exterior housing of the meter 7 isfixedly connected with a shaft 8 which is coaxial with the rotor of themeter 7, and the shaft 8 extends through a suitable cutout in the topwall of the cap 2 to the exterior of the camera where the shaft 8supports a knob 9. The knob 9 connected to the shaft 8 for axialmovement with respect thereto but is constrained against rotary movementwith respect to the shaft 8. Thus, the knob 9 may carry, for example, akey which extends slidably into an axial groove formed in the shaft 8.At its underside the knob 9 fixedly carries a pin 10 which may beselectively placed by the operator in one of a series of openings 11formed in the top wall of the cap 2, the openings ll being arrangedalong a circle whose center is in the axis of the shaft 8 and of coursein the coinciding axis of the meter 7. Thus, by placing the pin it) in aselected opening 1'1 the angular position of the shaft 8 and thus of themeter 7 will be determined by the operator. A spring 86 is connected atone end to the meter 7 at the exterior thereof and at its opposite endthe spring 85 extends through an opening in the top wall of the cap 2 tothe underside of the knob 9 to which the spring 86 is connected, so thatthe spring 86 urges the knob 9 downwardly in order to maintain the pinl-ll in a selected opening 11, the meter 7 being restrained againstaxial movement by the bearings which support the meter 7 or rotarymovement in its entirety. In order to set the knob 9 and thus the shaft8 and the meter 7 at a selected angular position the knob 5" carries anindex 12 which cooperates with a scale 13 arranged at the exterior uppersurface of the cap 2, and this scale 13 is a scale of film speeds, sothat according to the speed of the film which is placed in the camerathe operator will place the knob 9 in a selected angular position and inthis way place the meter 7 in an angular position which will introduceinto the camera the factor of the speed of the film which is used in thecamera. f course, it is also possible to introduce in this way otherfactors beside film speed. For example, the particular filterarrangement which is used with the camera may also be set into thecamera with the structure so as to influence the exposure accordingly.For this purpose, the knob 9 may carry several indexes 12 which may bedifferently colored, for example, and which respectively correspond todifferent filter arrangements, so that in accordance with the particularfilter arrangement a selected index 12 will be placed in alignment withthe graduation of the scale Ill) which corresponds to the speed of thefilm which is in the camera, and in this way the structure introducesinto the camera not only the factor of film speed but also the factor ofthe filter arrangement.

The unillustrated rotor of the meter 7 is fixed to a pointer means 14,so that the angular position of the pointer means is determined by themeter '7, and thus the angular position of the pointer means will beindicative of the lighting conditions. The pointer means 14, 15'includes a stepped pointer member 14 which is stepped upwardly from themeter 7, as viewed in FIG. 1, and a stepped pointer 15 which is steppeddownwardly in the manner shown in FIG. 1. The camera includes areference member which is available for being brought into alignmentwith the pointer 14- of the pointer means, and this reference membertakes the form of a pointer 16 which is stepped similarly to the pointer14, as shown in FIG. 1. At its front wall the cap 2 is provided with awindow 19 through which light reaches the pointer 13 as ell as thereference member 16, and with this illumination the alignment ofelements 14 and 16 may be observed by the operator through the window 17at the top of the cap 2, or a refiector 118 is carried within the spacein the interior of the cap 2 for reflecting into the viewfinder an imageof the elements il i and 16 so that the operator, while looking at thesubject through the viewfinder, will also see images of elements 14 and16 and may bring the pointer means and reference member into alignmentwhile observing the subject through the viewfinder. The structure forreceiving the images from the reflector 18 and providing in the field ofthe viewfinder an image of the elements l4- and 16 is well known.

The lower pointer 15' of the pointer means 14, 15 is capable of sweepingfreely over a pair of stationary bearing elements 20:: and Zilb. Thecamera includes a manually releasable scanning means capable of scanningthe position of the pointer means 14, 15, and this scanning meansincludes the scanning member 21 provided with an edge 22 which isdirected downwardly toward the pointer 15 and which has a curvaturewhich, in the well known way, will control the elevation of the scanningmeans 21 when the edge 22 thereof engages the pointer 15, so that inthis way the elevation of the scanning means 2i will also be indicativeof the lighting conditions. When the edge 22 engages the pointer 15 thelatter in turn engages the edges 26a and Zlib, so that these edges 29aand Zfib form a support for the pointer 15 during the scanning thereofby the scanning means 21. The curvature of the edge 22 is such that theextent of movement of the scanning means 21 from its rest position isproportional to the angular position of the pointer 15 so that in thisway it is possible to transmit through the scanning means 21 the lightintensity.

it will be noted that the upper wall of the camera housing It is formedwith suitable openings through which the scanning means 21 is freelymovable in a vertical direction, and of course these openings guide thescanning means 21 for vertical movement, the portion of the scanningmeans 21 which is provided with the scanning edge 22 extending etweenthe edges 28a and Zllb and through a slot formed in the top wall of thehousing 1 between these edges Ella and Ztlb.

At its underside the scanning means 21 is engaged by a lug 23 which isfixed to and extends from a lever 25 and which forms with the lever 25 atransmission means for transmitting movement of the scanning means to anautomatic means, described below, which automatically sets the camera.This lever 25 is supported intermediate its ends for turning movement bya stationary pivot pin 24 which is fixedly carried by the camera housing1 and which extends parallel to the optical axis (FIGS. 1 and 3). Thearm of the lever 25 which carries the lug 23 extends over and enga es alug 26 which is fixed to and extends from a release rod 28 which isguided for vertical movement by suitable stationary bearings, asillustrated in FIG. 3. The upper one of these bearings is fixed to aspring 27 the bottom end of which is connected to the lug 26, so thatthe spring 27 urges the rod 23 upwardly, and thus the rod 28 through itsslot 26 acts on the twoarmed lever 25 to urge the latter to turn in thedirection of the arrow a shown in FIG. 3. The release rod 28 fixedlycarries a manually-engageable key 29 located at the exterior of thecamera and fixed to the rod 28 through an extension which passes througha suitable slot formed in a wall of the camera housing 1, and in thisway the operator has free access to the key 29 at the front of thecamera. The return spring 27 by urging the lever '25 to turn in thedirection of the arrow (1 of FIG. 3 causes the lug 23 of the lever 25 toact on the scanning means 21 to urge the latter in the direction of thearrow 1) (FIG. 1). In this way the spring 2'7 maintains themanually-releasable scanning means 21 in its rest position where thescanning edge 22 is displaced upwardly from the pointer 15 so that thelatter is free to move along the edges 20a and 2%. The key 29 of themanually-releasable scanning means enables the operator to move therelease rod 23 downwardly in opposition to the spring 27. At this time adrive spring 36 which is weaker than the spring 27 and which isconnected at one end to the top wall of the housing 1 and at itsopposite end to the scanning means 21, as shown in FIG. 1, can move thescanning means 21 downwardly, in a direction opposite to that indicatedby the arrow b of FIG. 1, so that the scanning means 21 will now actuatethe transmission means 25 to turn the latter in a direction Opposite tothat indicated by the arrow a of FIG. 3. in this way the edge 22 of thescanning means will on the one hand scan the position of the pointer 15so as to determine the elevation of the scanning means 21 and on theother hand the transmission 23, 25 will transmit the movement of thescanning means to structure which will automatically set the exposuretime and exposure aperture of the camera in a manner described below.

The automatic means for automatically setting the camera includes arotary ring 32 (FIGS. 1 and 3) which is coaxial with the objective andwhich is supported for rotary movement about the optical axis. The ring32 fixedly carries a pin 33 which extends parallel to the optical axisand which is received in a bifurcated portion 31 at the end of the lever25-, this bifurcated portion 31 and the pin 33 forming a lost-motionconnection in the nature of a pin-and-slot between the transmissionmeans 23, 25 and the automatic means which includes the rotary ring 32.This ring 32 of the automatic means surrounds the lens tube 4 andfixedly carries an elongated projection 34 which extends forwardly fromthe ring 32 parallel to the optical axis, this projection 34 beingreceived in a notch 36 which is formed in a ring 35 which is coaxialwith the ring '32 and which also is supported for rotary movement aboutthe optical axis. This ring 35 forms that part of the automatic means ofthe embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3 which automatically sets the exposuretime control means which determines the exposure time, and for thispurpose the ring 35 is formed with an elongated cutout having a cammingedge 37 which determines the position of the pin 38 which forms part ofthe exposure time control means, this exposure time control meansincluding in addition to the pin 38 structure for retarding theoperation of the shutter in a controlled manner so as to providepredetermined exposure times according to the position of the pin 38, asis well known in the art. The pin 38 of course is maintained inengagement with the camming edge 37 of the ring 35 which turns with thering 32.

The pin 33 of the automatic means passes through an arcuate slot 39formed in a ring 40 which is coaxial with the ring 32 and which is alsoturnable about the optical axis, this ring 40 forming that part of theautomatic means of FIGS. 1 and 3 which panticipates in the'automaticsetting of the diaphragm of the camera. The ring 43 is provided at itscenter with a tubular projection 41 which directly surrounds and engagesthe stationary lens tube 4, and it will be noted that it is this tubularprojection 41 which directly engages the ring 32 to support the latterfor rotary movement. The tubular projection 41 is fixed at its front endto a rotary diaphragm-setting ring 42 which also is coaxial with theother rings and supported for rotary movement. The angular length of theslot 39, which extends along a circle whose center is in the opticalaxis, equals the angular distance through which the rings 32 and 35 turnduring changing of the exposure time between its end values, so thatwhile the pin 33 moves along the slot 39 the exposure time will be setbut the diaphragm will remain unchanged. The friction between thetubular projection 41 of the ring 40 and the tube 4 may be sufircientlygreat to maintain the assembly 4t)-42 stationary during turning of therings 32 and 35, or, as shown in FIG. 3, a spring 89 may be connected atone end to the ring 42 and at its opposite end to a stationary part ofthe camera to urge the rings 40 and 42 of the automatic means to apredetermined rest position where the diaphragm is at its maximumopening, for example. Thus, it will be seen that the spring 89 urges therings 40, 42 to turn in a direction opposite to that indicated by thearrow c which is shown in FIG. 3 on the ring 35.

The structure includes, in addition to the above-described automaticmeans capable of automatically setting the exposure time and exposureaperture in a manner described below, manually operable structure formanually setting the exposure time and/ or the exposure aperture, andthis manually operable structure includes a pair of setting rings 43 and44 surrounding and turnably carried by the tube 5. The setting ring 43carries (FIG. 3) an index 49 cooperating with a scale 5d which iscarried by the tube 5 at the exterior thereof, and this scale 53includes a symbol A which indicates the setting of the camera forautomatic exposure control. The scale further includes a symbol similarto that which indicates lightening (shown to the left of the symbol A inFlG. 3), and this latter symbol indicates the position of the index 49for making flash exposures, and finally to the left of the flash symbolis located a scale of exposure time values with a selected one of whichthe index 49 may be aligned by the operator to introduce manually intothe camera a selected exposure time when the camera is operated as asemi-automatic camera.

At its inner surface the ring 43 is formed with a recess 45 whichreceives an end of a radial projection 46 of a ring 47 which issupported by the tube 4 for movement about the optical axis and whichforms part of the manually operable means for setting the exposure timecontrol means 38. This ring 47 is formed with a cutout having a cammingedge 48 which also cooperates with the pin 38 for setting the exposuretime, this pin 38 extending through the cutout provided with the cammingedge 37 into engagement with the edge 48. Thus, the rings 43 and 47 forma manually operable means for manually setting the exposure controlmeans so as to determine the exposure time in a manual manner.

The pair of camming edges 37 and 43 are arranged with respect to eachother in such a way that the camming edge 37 is operative when the ring35 turns in the direction of the arrow 0 shown in FIG. 3. For thispurpose the camming edge 37 has a pair of portions 37a and 37]), thecamming edge portion 37a leading the portion 37b in the direction of thearrow 0. The portion 37a is formed so that a range of adjustment of thepin 38 from one end position to the opposite end position takes placesolely during engagement of the portion 37a with the pin 33, while theportion 37b extends along an arc of a circle whose center is in theoptical axis so that while the pin 38 engages the portion 37b of thecamming edge 37 no further setting of the exposure time control means 38will take place. At this time the exposure time control means willremain in the position which it has moved as a result of cooperation ofthe camming edge portion 37a with the pin 38.

In a similar way the camming edge 48 of the ring 47 has a pair ofportions 48a and 48b, and the portion 48a is the active or operativeportion of the camming edge 43 while the portion 43b is the inactive orinoperative edge portion. Thus, while the pin 38 is engaged by theportion 48b, which extends along an arc of a circle whose center is inthe optical axis, there will be no change in the exposure time, whilewhen the portion 48:: of the camming edge 48 engages the pin 38 andturns about the optical axis there will be a change in the exposuretime. The arrangement is such that when the ring 47 is manually turnedin a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow 0 the inactivecamming edge portion 48b will move along the pin 38 which will thusremain stationary at this time. Then an intermediate portion 43c of thecamming edge 48 will engage the pin 38 and will provide the shortestexposure time, and finally the active camming edge portion 48a will comeinto engagement with the pin 38 so as to provide progressively longerexposure times. The arrangement of the camming edge portion 480 is suchthat it moves the exposure time control pin 38 between the positionwhich provides a proper exposure during flash operation and the positionof shortest exposure time such as 1 sec., for example. The length of theinactive portion 48b of the camming edge 43 is at least double theangular distance through which the ring 42 or the ring 53 (describedbelow) must be turned in order to set the diaphragm between its minimumand maximum apertures.

The manually operable diaphragm setting means includes the ring 44supported for rotary movement by the tube 5 and provided at its innersurface with a recess 51 receiving an end of a radial projection 52 of asecond diaphragm-setting ring 53. The ring 53 fixedly carries a pin foreach blade 54 of the diaphragm means. Of

spec/pee course, a plurality of overlapping blades 54 form the diaphragmmeans, but only a single blade 5d is shown in FIG. 3 for the sake ofclarity. The pin 55 which is fixed to the ring 53 or" the manuallyoperable means extends into an elongated slot 56 formed in the blade ofthe diaphragm means, and in this way the manually operable means 44, 53cooperates with the diaphragm means 554. Each blade 54- is in additionpivotally connected with the ring 42 by a pivot pin 57 fixed to the ring42 and extending through a suitable opening of the blade 54 as shown inFIG. 3. Thus, when the ring turns with respect to the ring 42, theseveral pins will respectively cooperate with the several slots 56 toturn the blades 54 with respect to the pivots 57, respectively, whilewhen the ring 42 turns with respect to the ring 53 the blades 54 will beshifted so as to move the slots 56 respectively along the pins 55, whichare now stationary, and in this way the blades 54 will also turn aboutthe pins 57, which simultaneously turn with the ring 42, so as to setthe diaphragm. The radial extension 52 is provided with an axial portion5S which cooperates with an axially extending projection 55% fixed tothe ring The automatic means which includes the ring remains stationaryduring manual setting of the rings 43 and id, so that the angularposition of the ring is predetermined at this time. When the camera isset for automatic operation the operator turns the ring 43 in thedirection of the arrow of FIG. 3 so as to bring the index 49 intoalignment with the symbol A, and during this turning the projection 59will engage the projection 58 to turn the ring 53 as well as the ring idin a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3, so that the several pins55 move respectiveiy along the slots 56 to bring the diaphragm means 54in the example illustrated in PPS. 3 to its fully open positionproviding largest aperture when the structure is set for automaticoperation, and it will be noted that this control of the diaphragm meanstakes place fully automatically when the operator manually turns thering of the manually operable exposure time setting means which in themanner described above additionally serves the function of setting thecamera for fully automatic operation.

As may be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the tube fixedly carries at its innerperiphery a pin 5d which extends through an elongated slot at formed ina two-armed lever 62. The arms of the lever 62 respectively carry pinsas and 64'. .e pin 63 extends through an opening 67 which is formed inthe outer tube 5 and into an elongated camming groove 65 which is formedat the inner periphery of the manually operable exposure time settingmeans or ring as. The pin 6d extends through an opening 68 of the outertube 5 into a corresponding elongated camming groove 66 which is formedat the inner periphery of the manually operable diaphragm setting meansor ring 44. The lever 62 has a cam-shaped rojection 69 which engages oneend of an axially movable pin 71. A spring 79 is coiled about the pin71, engages at its right end, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, a stationarypart of the camera structure, and engages at its left end a collar whichis fixed to the pin 71, so that the springs 70 urges the pin 71 to theleft, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, and thus maintains the left end of thepin '71 in engagement with the projecting portion 69 of the lever 62.

The end of the axially shiftable pin 71 which is distant from the lever62 engages a camming portion 72 of a plate 74 which is supported forturning movement by the stationary pin 73 which is carried by astationary par-t of the camera. The plate 74 is formed with an arcuateslot 75 which forms a compensating cam which in a known way compensatesthe movement characteristics of the adjusting or setting rings 4-3 and4d, on the one hand with the operating characteristics of the meter 7.In other words, as is well known, the meter '7 will not have a straightline characteristic and the curvature of the slot compensates betweenthe operation of the meter 7 and the adjustments made with the rings 43and id. The camming slot 75 receives a pin 76 which is fixed to a lever78 which is turnable about the stationary pivot pin 77 which is fixedlycarried by the camera so that the axial movement of the pin 71 willresult in turning of the plate 74 which through the cammining slot 75will act on the pin 76 so as to turn the lever 78, and this lever 73 isfixed with a gear 79 also supported for rotary movement by the pin '77.The gear 7? meshes with a pinion 8% which is fixed to the lower end ofan elongated shaft 81 supported for rotary movcment by bearings 82 and83 which are fixedly carried by stationary parts of the camera. The axisof the shaft Sll coincides with the axis of the meter 7 and of coursewith the axis of the shaft 8 which is fixed to the housing of the meter7, as described above. An elongated member 84 of substantially U-shapedconfiguration is fixed at its lower end to the top end of the shaft 81and extends around the meter 7 to the upper part thereof where themember 84 is fixed to the reference member or pointer 16. A spring 85 isfixed at one end to a stationary part of the camera and at its oppositeend to the member 54 so as to urge the latter together with thereference member 16 and the shaft 81 to turn in a direction which willcause the shaft 81 through the gearing 79, 8t) and the lever 73 to actthrough the pin 76 and the slot 75 on the plate '74- for maintaining theprojection 72 thereof in engagement with the right end of the pin 71.The camrning grooves 65 and 66 together with the pins 63 and 64 and thelever 62 as well as the entire transmission formed by the pin 71, theplate 74, the lever 78, the gearing '79, St), the shaft 81, and theelement 84 form a differential means which connects the rings 43 and 44to the reference member 16 so that the latter will be moved uponoperation of either the ring E3 or the ring 44 in such a way that whenthe operator turns these rings to set the camera the reference member 16will be moved and can be brought by the operator into alignment with thepointer 14 of the meter 7. This alignment of the elements 14 and 16 canbe observed through the window 17 or in the viewfinder as the result ofprojection into the viewfinder of the images of elements 14 and 16 bythe reflector 18 as described above. Thus, when the camera is used as asemi-automatic camera the operator will turn the ring 43 and/or the ring44 until the reference member 16 and the pointer 14 are brought intoalignment, and then the operator will know that the camera is set tomake a proper exposure.

in order to operate the camera automatically, the operator turns thering 43 so as to bring the index into alignment with the symbol A of thescale 5d. Then the operator depresses the key 29 so as to release thescanning means 21 which is urged downwardly by the spring 30 until thescanning edge 22 engages the pointer 15, and this will result in turningof the lever 25 of the transmission between the scanning means and theautomatic means so that in this way the lever 25 turns until thescanning edge 22 engages the pointer 15 and presses it against thesurfaces Ztla and 2%. The lever 25 acts on the pin 33 so as to turn thering 32 which as a result of this coupling by way of the extension 34with the ring 35 turns the latter ring so as to move the camming edge 37with respect to the exposure time control pin 3%, and in this way whilethe pin 38 is engaged by the portion 37:: of the camming edge 37 theexposure time will be set.

In the particular example illustrated the exposure time is adjustedwhile the diaphragm means 54 remains in its fully open position, asdescribed above. Assuming that the amount of light is so great that whenthe exposure time has been reduced by the camming edge portion 37:: toits minimum value it is still necessary to decrease the amount of light,then the continued turning of the pin 33 will cause the pin 33 to engagethe end 3% of the slot 39 and the ring 40 will now start to turn. Atthis time the pin 38 is engaged by the portion 37b of the camming edge37 so that the exposure time remains unchanged at its minimum value andnow the turning of the ring 40 together with the ring 42 wiil result inmovement of the slots 56 of the diaphragm blades 54- with respect to thepins 55 so that the size of the exposure aperture now is constantlyreduced as long as the lever 25 continues to turn. Of course, duringthis automatic operation the ring 53 together with the manually turnablering 44 remains stationary. In this way the camera will operate toreduce first the exposure time and then the exposure aperture until thescanning edge 22 engages the pointer 15, and the structure willautomatically stop at a combination of exposure time and exposureaperture which will give a proper exposure. This operation is carriedout in a fully automatic manner in an extremely short time, and then inorder to make an exposure the operator will simply actuate aconventional shutter release.

When the operator releases the key 29 this key together with the rod 28are returned to their starting position by the return spring 27 and theprojection 26 will engage the lever 25 at this time to turn it in thedirection of the arrow a shown in FIG. 3, so that the scanning means 21is now moved in a direction of the arrow 12 by engagement of the lug 23of the lever 25 with the underside of the scanning means 21, and thismovement of course takes place in opposition to the spring 39. Theupward movement of the scanning means of course displaces the scanningedge 22 upwardly from the pointer 15 which is now freed to turn withrespect to the surfaces 29a and Ziib. This return movement of the lever25 of course results in return of the rings 32 and 35 to their startingposition and when the pin 33 engages the end 3% of the slot 39 the rings49 and 42 also return to their starting position. Of course, where aspring 89 is provided, as shown in FIG. 3, the rings 40 and 42 will bereturned by the spring 89 to their starting position as soon as thelever 25 starts to return to its starting position, and then when therings 46 and 42 have reached their starting position the pin 33 willcontinue to move along the slot 39 to the end 3% thereof which is thestarting position of the entire automatic assembly.

In order to make a flash exposure the manually operable exposure timesetting means 43 which also acts as a means for selecting the particulartype of operation is turned until its index 49 is aligned with thesymbol on the scale 50 which indicates the setting for flash operattion.This turning of the ring 43 will of course also in turning of the ring47 so that the inactive portion 48b of the camming edge 48 moves alongthe pin 58. The projection 54) of the ring 43 is turned at this time ina direction opposite to that indicated by arrow through a distance whichpermits turning of the ring 53 by the operator through an angle greatenough to provide the entire range of possible adjustments of thediaphragm without engagement between the projection 58 and theprojection 59. If it is assumed that in the illustrated example theexposure times may be adjusted between sec. and sec., and that theexposure time for flash operation is A sec., then the camming edge 48will have the configuration shown in FIG. 3. In the event that it isdesired with the same shutter to make flash exposures with an exposuretime of sec., then at the end or the inactive camming edge portion 481)just before the beginning of the active portion 48a there is acam-shaped projection which, when the rings 43 and 47 are in the angularposition for flash operation engages the pin 33 and turns it to aposition which will provide an exposure time of sec.

In order to adjust the size of the exposure aperture the manuallyoperable diaphragm setting means 44 is turned in a direction opposite tothat engaged by the arrow 0. Because of the coupling between the ring 44and the ring 53 by way of the projection 52 of the ring 53, this ring 53turns with the ring 44. Since at this time 10 the rings 40 and 42 arestationary, the pivots 57 of the blades 54 are also stationary, and thusthe pins 55 which turns with the ring 53 move along the slots 56 so asto turn the blades of the diaphragm means and thus adjust the size ofthe exposure aperture.

In order to use the camera in a semi-automatic manner, the ring 43 ismanually turned until the index 49 is aligned with the desired exposuretime on the scale 50. This turning of the ring 43 will cause the cammingslot 65 to act on the pin 63 so as to actuate the differential lever 62for shifting the pin 71. It will be noted that the camming groove 65extends along a helical path only at a region where this helical part ofthe groove engages the pin 63 when the index 49 is aligned with aparticular exposure time of the scale 50. In other words the location ofthe helical portion of the camming groove 65 is such that the helicalportion will engage the pin 63 only when the ring 43 is turned to aposition which provides semi-automatic operation, which is to say whenthe index 49 is aligned with a selected value of exposure time.Otherwise the pin 63 is located in a circular portion of the groove 65and of course at this time there Will be no movement of the lever 62. Ofcourse, this movement of the pin 71 of the differential means will actthrough the plate 74 and the lever 78 on the gearing 79 and St) on theshaft 81 to turn the latter together with the element 84 and thereference member 16. After the operator has chosen a particular exposuretime, assuming that during semi-automatic operation the operator startsoh by choosing a given exposure time, the operator will turn the ring 44until the reference pointer 16 is brought into alignment with thepointer 14, and then the camera is properly set to make an exposure. Ofcourse, the turning of the ring 44 will cause the camming groove 66 toact on the difierential lever 62 so as to turn the reference member 16.

In order to change back to automatic operation it is only necessary forthe operator to turn the ring 43 in the direction of the arrow 0 of FIG.3 until the index 49 is again aligned with the symbol A. This willresult in the projection 59 engaging the projection 58 so as to turn therings 44 and 53 automatically to a position where the diaphragm isproperly set to initiate the automatic operation.

In the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIG. 4, themeter and pointer means as well as the scanning means, the transmissionbetween the scanning means and the automatic means, and also the pair ofmanually operable rings and the differential means which actuate thereference member 16 are all identical with that described above inconnection with FIGS. 1-3. In the embodiment of FIG. 4 the bifurcatedportion 31 of the transmission lever 25 engages a pin of an automaticmeans which is constructed differently from that of FIGS. l-3. The pin99 is fixed to a ring 91 which is supported for rotary movement aboutthe optical axis, and this ring 91 itself is formed with a cutout havinga camming edge 92 which actuates the exposure time control means of thisembodiment. The ring 91 is also formed with an arcuate slot 93 whichextends along a circle whose center is in the optical axis. The cammingedge 92 cooperates with the pin 94 of the exposure time control meanswhich is in the form of a well known retarding mechanism for retardingthe operation of the shutter according to the position of the pin 94,this pin 94 of course extending into the cutout of the plate '91 andbeing urged by a spring at all times into engagement with the cammingedge 92. The camming edge 92 has an active portion 92:: which willchange the exposure time during movement of the camming edge portion 92awith respect to the pin 94, and the camming 92 has an inactive portion92b which extends along an arc of a circle whose center is in theoptical axis and which when it moves with respect to the pin 94 will notchange the position thereof. The slot 93 of the ring 91 receives a pin95 which is fixed to a diaphragm ring 96 which fixedly carries the pivotpins of the several blades 99 which form the diaphragm means of thisembodiment. A spring 97 is connected at one end to a stationary part ofthe camera and at its opposite end to the ring 96 so as to yieldablyurge the latter to a predetermined starting position. In this startingposition the pin 95 of the ring 96 is located at the end %a of the slot93. The length of the slot 93 is equal to the angular distance throughwhich the ring 96 must turn in order to provide a full range ofadjustment of the diaphragm from its largest to its smallest size. Forthe sake of clarity only one pivot pin Q8 and one diaphragm blade areshown. The several blades 99 are formed with control slots 1%, and theseslots respectively receive pins lltll which are fixed to a stationaryring Ml?) fixedly carried by a stationary part of the camera. Theseveral control slots 1% of the blades 99 each have a pair of portionslittle and ltltib, and the portion ltltia of each slot 1% is an activeportion providing a change in the size of the diaphragm during movementof the portion who and the slot 1% along the pin 101, while when theportion ltltlb of the slot 1% moves along the pin 161 there is no changein the size of the exposure aperture, so that the portion itltib or"each slot 1% is an inactive camming portion. The ring 96 fixedly carriesa radial projection iii?) which is urged by the spring 97' intoengagement with an inner projection iii-t of the ring iltlfi whichcorresponds to the ring 44 described above and which forms together withthe ring 9-6 in the embodiment of FIG. 4 the structure for manuallysetting the diaphragm. The side of the projection 104- which is directedaway from the projection 1G3 engages an unillustrated stationary stopmember which thus limits the turning of the ring N5 in a directionopposite to that indicated by the arrow d, and thus the spring 97 will,by urging the projection N3 into engagement with the projection PM whenthe latter engages the stop member, locate the diaphragm at a properstarting position which in the illustrated example is the fully openposition. The stationary ring 162 as well as the turnable ring 96 areformed with arcuate notches 1% at their peripheries through which thepin Wt passes into the cutout which is provided with the camming edge92, so that the diaphragm operating structure does not in any wayinterfere with the exposure time control means.

At its end which is directed away from the ring 91, the pin 94 extendsthrough a slot it of a stationary plate 163 which also carries theadditional unillustrated parts of the shutter, and the pin 9 at itsforward end portion extends into another cutout into engagement with thesecond exposure time controlling camming edge Hi This latter cutout andthe camrning edge 11th are carried by a ring UB9 which, in the same wayas the ring 47 of FIG. 3, has a radial projection 111 received in arecess 112 formed at the inner surface of the manually turnable exposuretime setting ring 113 of the embodiment of FIG. 4. In this embodimentthe ring H33 carries the scale 114 which is provided with the symbol forautomatic operation, with a symbol for flash operation, with a 33setting for manual determination of exposure time, as well as with aseries of exposure time graduations which are used during semi-automaticoperation of the camera. This scale 114 cooperates with a stationaryindex 115 carried by the stationary outer tube 5. The manually turnablering 1G5 which forms part of the manually operable means for setting thediaphragm cooperates with a similar scale of stop numbers which indicatethe sizes of the exposure apertures for semi-automatic operation of thecamera. The ring 113 is formed at its inner periphery with a camminggroove 65 which actuates the differential means which is identical withthat described above, and in the same way the ring 105 is formed at itsinner periphery with a camming groove 64.

The ring 113 is also formed with a notch 116 (FIGS. 4 and 5) in a flangeof the ring 113 which is directed toward the ring res, and a projectionill? at the end of a lever MS is re eived in the notch 116 when the ring113 is set for automatic operation. This projection lit? forms an endportion of a two-armed lever H8 which is supported between the rings M5and 113 for turning movement and which is urged by a spring i19 to turnin a counterclockwise direcion, as viewed in FIG. 5. The ring Hi5 isformed at a flange portion which is directed toward the ring 113 with anotch 12% which receives the opposite end portion of the lever 118, thisopposite end portion 121 also being in the form of a projection. Whenthe parts are in the position shown in EEG. 5, and this is the positionwhich the rings and N5 take during automatic operation of the camera,turning of the ring N5 is not possible because of the configuration ofthe notch 12% and the projection 121 located therein. On the other hand,it is possible to turn the ring 113 in the direction of the arrow e,since this will result in engagement of the inclined edge 122 of thenotch 116 with the projection 117 so that the lever 118 will in this waybe turned in opposition to the spring 119, and of course this turningwill result in movement of the projection 121 out of the notch 12%) sothat the ring N5 is also released. lhus, the lever 113 forms areleasable lock means capable of releasably locking the ring 11% as wellas the remainder of the manually 0 er able diaphragm setting means in apredetermined posi tion for automatic operation, and the manuallyoperable exposure time setting means which is formed in part by the ring113 is capable of releasing the lock means so as to release the ringwhen this manually operable exposure time setting means is turned to aposition other than that required for automatic camera operation. Thus,with the embodiment of PEG. 4 when the camera is to be used forautomatic operation the rin" 165 is turned to a position which providesan end value of the exposure aperture such as he largest possibleopening thereof, as shown in the illustrated example, and then with thering 1 13 is turned to the angular position which gives automaticoperation the lock means 113 will operate automatically to lock the ringHi5 against turning movement.

The ring N9 is formed not only with the cutout which has the cammingedge lit! for controlling the exposure time during manual settingthereof, but also this ring M9 is formed with a cutout having a cainmingedge 123 which is engaged by an unillustrated control pin of an exposuretime controlling mechanism which provides a range of exposure timeslarger or longer than those exposure times provided by cooperation ofthe camming edge with the pin 94. The pin and retarding mechanism whichcooperate with the camming edge 123 are not illustrate in addition, theplate or ring 1% is formed with an arcuate slot 124 extending along anarc of a circle whose center is in the optical axis and receiving a pin125 of a lever 126 which comes into play during the B-setting where theoperator will himself measure the exposure time. For this purpose theslot is provided along one edge with a notch 12'] which receives the pinwhen the symbol E of the ring 113 is aligned with the index 115.

The canirning edge 1129 has an active portion lltla which will changethe exposure time during movement of this active portion inn withrespect to the exposure time control means at the pin 94 thereof, andwhen the pin Qt is engaged by the caniming edge portion 110b, whichextends along an arc of a circle whose center is in the optical axis,there will be no change in the exposure time, this camming edge portion11% being the inactive part of the camming edge 1%. The camming edge 123has an active portion 123a which produces changes in exposure timeduring movement with respect to the pin of the exposure time controlmeans, and at both ends of the active portion 123a the camining edge 123has portions 12% and 1230 which are inactive in that they produce nofurther changes in exposure time and which are of different lengths. Theexposure time setting structure is so arranged that when the camera isset for automatic operation with the symbol A of the ring 113 alignedWith the index 115, the pin 94 is located at the end 1190 of the cammingedge 119. At this time the pin of the exposure time control means whichcooperates with the camming edge 123 which provides longer exposuretimes is located in the region 12% of the camming edge 123, and at thistime the pin 125 is located at the end 124a of the slot 124. In thisposition of the parts the retarding mechanism for the relatively longexposure times is incapable of operating and the lever 126 is also in aninoperative position, and the pin 94 is located by the edge portion 11%at a posi tion providing the longest possible exposure time obtainablefrom the camming edge 110, this exposure time being, for example, sec.

7 If the ring 113 is turned from the position shown in FIG. 4 in thedirection of the arrow e to the position for flash operation whosesymbol is directed directly next to the symbol A, then the lock means126, 120, 118 is released so as to release the ring 1G5, but theexposure time setting remains unchanged. Thus, the operator can at thistime turn the ring 165 so as to set a desired exposure aperture into thecamera, and the ring 195 at this time is turned in the direction of thearrow a. This will result in movement of the camming slots 16!! of theblades 99 along the stationary pins 101, and since at this time theactive portions 190a of the slots 100 receive the pins 100,respectively, the diaphragm blades 99 of course turn about the pivots 98(which turn about the optical axis together with the ring 96) so thatthe exposure aperture is reduced in this way.

When the operator turns the ring 11 3 so as to locate the symbol B inalignment with the index 115, the inactive portions 110b and 12312 ofthe camming edges 1 and 123, respectively, will still be in engagementwith the pins of the exposure time controlling mechanisms so that therewill 'be no change in the settings of these exposure time controllingmechanisms, but at this time the pm 125 will be received in the notch127, as mentioned above. If the operator now operates the shutterrelease so as to make an exposure, the lever 126 is free to turn throughan angular distance sufiicient to locate the pin 125 in the notch 127and in this way the shutter will be maintained open as long as theoperator maintains the shutter release plunger or button depressed, sothat the shutter is prevented from closing as long as the operatormanually depresses the shutter release element of the camera.

Turning of the ring 113 further in the direction of the arrow e willlocate the notch 127 beyond the pin 125, and at this time the inactiveportion 11% of the camming edge 110 will still remain in engagement withthe pin '94 so that further adjustment of the exposure time controlmeans for relatively short exposure times does not take place. On theother hand, the pin which engages the camming edge 123 is now in contactwith the active camming portion 123a thereof, so that the relativelylong exposure times are set in this way during the alignment of theinitial graduations of the exposure time scale with the index 115. Atthis time the greatest retarding in the operation of the shutter will beprovided so as to provide the relatively long exposure times. Thestructure which cooperates with the camming edge 123 may provideexposure times down to sec., for example. If the ring 113 is turned toprovide an exposure time of 4 sec., then the pin which cooperates withthe camming edge 123 reaches the inactive portion 123a thereof so thatthe expo-sure time controlling mechanism which cooperates with thecamming edge 12 3 now becomes inoperative, but at this time the cammingedge portion 11011 of the camming edge 110 engages the pin 94 so as toprovide the relatively short exposure times. The continued turning ofthe ring 113 beyond this point will of course move the active cammingedge portion 110a with respect to the pin 94 so as to move the latterand provide progressively shorter exposure times down to the smallestpossible exposure time. Of course, these latter settings take placeduring semi-automatic operation of the camera.

Of course, as long as the camera is operated as a semiautomatic camerathe camming grooves at the inner surfaces of the rings 113 and 105 willactuate the diiferential means so as to enable the operator to bring thereference member and the pointer of the meter into alignment with eachother. When the ring 113 is returned to the position for automaticoperation so as to operate the camera automatically, then the structuredescribed above in connection with FIG. 1 is actuated so as to releasethe scanning means which in the manner described above turns thetransmission lever 25 in a direction opposite to that indicated by thearrow a, and in this way the pin is turned so as to turn the ring 91.The slot 93 of course turns with the ring 91, and because the end 93a ofthe slot 93 engages the pin 95 the ring 96 also turns and moves theactive slot portions 100a of the blades 99 along the pins 101 so thatduring the initial turning of the ring 91 it is the exposure aperturewhich is constantly reduced with the embodiment of FIG. 4. When thediaphragm means has reached the size providing the smallest exposureaperture, the pin 94 is engaged no longer by the inactive portion 92b ofthe camming edge 92 and instead is engaged by the active portion 92a ofthe edge '92 so that at this time the exposure time will be reduced. Thering 96 will continue to turn, but the inactive portions 10011 of theslots 190 reach the pins 101, respectively, simultaneously with theengagement of the edge portion 92a with the pin 94, so that at this timethe diaphragm remains at its smallest size while the exposure time isconstantly reduced. Thus, with the embodiment of FIG. 4 the exposuretime will be reduced from a maximum exposure time of sec. while theexposure aperture remains at its minimum size.

Referring now to FIG. 6, with this embodiment also the meter and pointermeans as Well as the ditferential means, the scanning means, and thetransmission means all referred to above are identical with thosedescribed in connection with FIG. 1. With the embodiment of FIG. 6 thetransmission lever 25 cooperates with a ring supported for rotarymovement by the optical axis, this ring 130 fixedly carrying the pin 131which is received in the bifurcated portion 132 of the lever 25. Thering 130 of the automatic means of the embodiment of FIG. 6 is formedwith a cutout provided with a camming edge 133 which serves toautomatically set the exposure time, and this camming edge 133 has anactive portion 133a and an inactive portion 133b which of course extendsalong an are or a circle whose center is in the optical axis. Thecamming edge 133 cooperates with the pin 134 of an exposure time controlmeans of conventional construction. The ring 130 of the automatic meansalso carries a plurality of pins 136 only one of which is shown for thesake of clarity, and these pins 136 are respectively received in thecamming slots 137 which are respectively formed in the diaphragm bladesonly one of which is shown for the sake of clarity. The camming slots137 of the blades 135 each have an active portion 137a and an inactiveportion 13717. The several blades 135 are respectively supported onpivot pins 138 which are fixedly carried by a rotary ring 139 which isadapted to be man uially turned by manual turning of the ring 143 whichtogether with the ring 139 forms the manually operable diaphragm settingmeans. The ring 143 of course corresponds to the ring 44 describedabove. The ring 139 is formed at its periphery with a notch 140 throughwhich the pin 134 freely extends into the cutout provided with cammingedge 13 3, so that there is no interference between the diaphragmstructure and the exposure time setting structure, and the connectionbetween the manually turn-able rings 139 and 143 is by Way of a radialprojection 141 of the ring 139 which is received in the space 142between a pair of inwardly directed radial projections ldZa and 142b ofthe ring 143. This ring 143 cooperates with an unillustrated scale ofexposure apertures.

The pin 13d passes through an arcuate slot 144 which is formed in astationary plane 14-5 which carries in addition to the exposure timesetting structure the remaining elements of the shutter, and afterpassing through the slot i144 the pin 134 is received in a cutout of aplate 14-7, this cutout being provided with the camming edge 14-6 whichalso serves to set the exposure time. This ring 147 which is alsosupported for turning movement about the optical axis has at the cammingedge 1% an active portion 1415a and an inactive portion 14%. The ring147 has radial projection 149 received in a recess 15% :formed in themanually turnable ring 148. This ring 148 is of course formed with acamming groove .165 which actuates the differential means as describedabove, and the ring 143 is provided with a camrning groove in the sameway as the ring 4-4 described above so as to also actuate thedifferential means in order to bring the pointer means of the meter andthe reference member into alignment with each other. The ring 148carries at its outer periphery a scale 151 of exposure times as well assettings for automatic operation, flash operation, and a B-setting. Thisscale 151 cooperates with a stationary index 115 carried by the outerstationary tube 5.

It will be noted that the ring 147 is formed also with an arcu-ate slot15?. having at one edge a notch 155 which cooperates with the pin 153 ofthe ever 154 of the structure which in the B-setting of the ring 14?,enables the operator to determine the exposure time manually.

The length of the inactive portion 13% of the camnting edge 133 is equalto the angular distance through which the ring 130- is turned duringmovement of the diaphragm between its end positions. Also, tne length ofthe inactive portion 137k of each slot 137 is equal to the angulardistance required for turning the diaphragm between its end positions.The length of the inactive portion 14612 of the camming edge 146 equalsthe angular distance through which the ring 4% and with it the ring 47is turned during movement from the automatic setting to the settingwhich provides the longest exposure time by manual setting of the ring148, this latter setting being sec. in the illustrated example. The slot152 has a structure substantially identical with the slot 124 of FIG. 4.

When making an automatic exposure with the embodiment of FIG. 6 thetransmission lever is of course again turned upon release of thescanning means to an angular distance which is determined by thelighting conditions, and this turning of the lever 25 takes place in adirection opposite to that indicated by the arrow a. During this turningof the lever 25 the ring of course turns in a clockwise direction, asviewed in FIG. 6, and the inactive edge portion 1339b moves with respectto the pin 134 which at the start of the operation is located at the end1330 of the edge portion 1331). Therefore during the initial turning ofthe ring 131} the exposure time remains unchanged. On the other hand theseveral pins 136 move along the active portions 137a of the slots 137during the initial part of the turning of the ring 30 when the cameraoperates automatically, and as a result several blades 135 turn aboutthe pivots 138 which remain stationary at this time with the ring 139,so that during the initial part of the turning of the ring 1319 thediaphragm becomes gradually closed to provide progressively smallerexposure apertures.

When the diaphragm reaches its end position providing the smallestexposure aperture the active edge portion 133a of the carnming edge 133reaches the pin 134 and simultaneously the several pins 136 reach theinactive tions 13712 of the several slots 137. Thus, during continuedturning of the ring 150 the diaphragm remains 1 9 unchanged at itssmallest size and the active edge 133a acts on the pin 134 so as toconstantly reduce the exposure time.

After the camera has thus been automatically set in this way and afterthe shutter has been released so as to make an exposure, the operatorwill release the key 29 described above in connection with FIGS. 1 and3, and the parts will return to their starting position shown in FIG. 6.

In order to operate the camera in a semi-automatic manner where theexposure time and/or the exposure aperture are set manually, the ring143 is turned by the operator in the direction of the arrow 1, and thiswill advance the scale of exposure times toward the index 115. When thesymbol A moves beyond the index 115, the symbol for flash operation becmes into alignment with the index 115. At this time, which is to saywhen the ring 143 has been turned to set the camera for flash operationthe inactive portion 1 56b of the camming edge 1% will still be inengagement with the pin 134- so that the exposure time will remainunchanged at its initial value of ,6 see. On the other hand, theoperator can at this time turn the ring 143 so as to set the exposureaperture, thus turning taking place in the direction of the arrow g. Atthis time the ring 131 and the pins 136 remain stationary so that thering 139 turns with the ring 143 to move the several slots 13'] alongthe pins 136 and the engagement of the active portions 1370 of the slots37 with the pins 136 will change the size of the exposure aperture.Further turning of the ring 1 33 in the direction of the arrow f willlocate the symbol B in alignment with index 115, and in this 13- settingof the camera the ring 147 has been turned through an angular distancewhich aligns the notch with the pin 153 so that when the shutter isreleased the lever 154- can turn in order to prevent return of theshutter to its closed position until the operator releases the shutteroperating button or plunger. At this time the pin 14 is still engaged bythe inactive portion 146!) of the camming edge 146.

The pin 134- is still engaged by the inactive portion 14% when the ring14-8 is turned so as to align the exposure time graduation 6% with theindex 115 so as to provide an exposure time see. This movement will onlydisplace the notch 155 beyond the pin 153 so that the normal shutteroperation will take place. It is only during subsequent turning of thering 148 to align shorter exposure time graduations of the scale 151with the index 115 that the active camming edge portion 146a engages thepin 134 so as to set the exposure time control means to provide exposuretime shorter than 1 sec. When the ring 148 is in the angular positionproviding exposure times which are manually selected by the operator aswell as when the ring 143 is turned to provide a manually selectedexposure aperture the camming grooves at the inner periphery of therings 148 and 143 will actuate the above-described differential means soas to turn the reference member so that it may be aligned with thepointer means which is turned by the meter, as described above.

With the embodiment of FIG. 6 it is possible to provide, as in theembodiment of FIG. 4, a lock means which will releasably lock the ring143 against turning movement when the ring 148 is in the positionproviding automatic operation.

It will be noted that in all embodiments the manually turnable exposuretime setting ring turns a ring provided with a camming edge to set theexposure time manually while a separate ring is provided with a cammingedge to set the exposure time automatically. In the embodiment of FIG. 3this separate ring 35 is connected with the ring 32 which is turned bythe lever 24. However, in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 6 the rings 91and 30 which are directly turned by the lever 25 are also formed withthe camming edges which control the exposure time during automaticoperation. Moreover, while in FIG. 2 the pair of rings 40 and 42 arerequired to set the diaphragm automatically and a third ring 53 will setthe diaphragm manually, in FIG. 4- the same ring 96 is turned duringmanual or automatic setting of the diaphragm so that with thisembodiment an exceedingly compact structure requiring a small number ofelements is provided. The same is true of FIG. 6 where, although a pairof diaphragm adjusting rings are provided, it will be noted that thering 13% serves not only to set the diaphragm during automatic operationof the camera but in addition sets the exposure time and serves as partof the transmission of the lever 25.

The invention is of course not limited to the abovedescribed specificexamples. For example, the abovedescribed differential means andtransmission means can be differently constructed. Moreover, instead ofproviding a movable reference member such as the pointer 16 of FIG. 1,it is possible to provide a stationary index and to arrange the entiremeter :for turning movement so that the differential means will turn themeter and its pointer into alignment with a stationary index which inthis case forms the reference member with which the pointer of the meteris brought into alignment during semi-automatic operation. Moreover,instead of setting into the camera the factors of film speed and/ orfilter arrangement by means of setting the angular position of the meter7, it is possible instead to provide, for example, a movable light shademember which can be moved into overlapping relation with the windowthrough which light reaches the photoelectric cell or the photosensitivercsistor so as to influence the amount of light reaching thislight-sensitive element and therefore set the factor on the film speedand/ or filter arrangement into the camera in this way.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofcameras difiering from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied inautomatic cameras, it is not intended to be limited to the detailsshown, since various modifications and structural changes may be madewithout departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adapatations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a camera, in combination, exposure time control means; diaphragmmeans; manually operable exposure time setting means cooperating withsaid exposure time control means for manually setting the latter;manually operable diaphragm setting means cooperating with saiddiaphragm means for manually setting the latter; auto matic meanscooperating with said exposure time control means and with saiddiaphragm means for automatically setting said exposure time controlmeans and said diaphragm means, both of said manually operable meansremaining stationary during operation of said automatic means and saidautomatic means remaining stationary during operation of either one ofsaid manually operable means by the operator; meter means having apointer. whose position is indicative of the lighting conditions, saidautomatic means cooperating with said meter means to have its operationcontrolled by said meter means so that said automatic means sets thecamera in accordance with the lighting conditions; a reference member;and differential means actuated by both of said manually operable meansand cooperating with said reference member for bringing said pointer andreference member into alignment with each other during operation by theoperator of either one of or both of said manually operable means sothat said meter means assists the operator in the manual setting of thecamera also.

2. In a camera, in combination, exposure time control means; diaphragmmeans; manually operable exposure time setting means cooperating withsaid exposure time control means for manually setting the latter;manually operable diaphragm setting means cooperating with saiddiaphragm means for setting the latter; automatic means cooperating withsaid exposure time control means and with said diaphragm means forautomatically setting said exposure time control means and saiddiaphragm means; pointer means; a meter cooperating with said pointermeans for placing the latter in positions indicative of the lightingconditions; manually releasable scanning means cooperating, whenmanually released, with said pointer means for moving to a positiondetermined by the position of said pointer means, so that the positionof said scanning means is also indicative of the lighting conditions;transmission means actuated by said scanning means and cooperating withsaid automatic means for transmitting movement of said scanning means tosaid automatic means to move the latter automatically for automaticallysetting said exposure time control means and said diaphragm means; areference member; and differential means actuated by either one or bothof said manually operable means and cooperating with said referencemember for bringing the latter into alignment with said pointer means sothat said meter and pointer means contribute to the manual as well asthe automatic setting of the camera.

3. In a camera, in combination, exposure time control means; diaphragmmeans; manually operable exposure time setting means cooperating withsaid exposure time control means for manually setting the latter;manually operable diaphragm setting means cooperating with saiddiaphragm means for setting the latter; automatic means cooperating withsaid exposure time control means and with said diaphragm means forautomatically setting said exposure time control means and saiddiaphragm means; pointer means; a meter cooperating with said pointermeans for placing the latter in positions indicative of the lightingconditions; manually releasable scanning means cooperating, whenmanually released, with said pointer means for moving to a positiondetermined by the position of said pointer means, so that the positionof said scanning means is also indicative of the lighting conditions;transmission means actuated by said scanning means and cooperating withsaid automatic means for transmitting movement of said scanning means tosaid automatic means to move the latter automatically for automaticallysetting said exposure time control means and said diaphragm means; areference member; differential means actuated by either one or both ofsaid manually operable means and cooperating with said reference memberfor bringing the latter into alignment with said pointer means so thatsaid meter and pointer means contribute to the manual as well as theautomatic setting of the camera; and additional manually operable meanscooperating with said meter and pointer means for influencing the sameaccording to a further factor which determines the exposure of film inthe camera.

4. In a camera as recited in claim 3, said further factor being the filmspeed.

5. In a camera as recited in claim 3, said further factor being thefilter arrangement which is used with the camera.

6. In a camera as recited in claim 3, said further factor being acombination of the film speed and the filter arrangement.

7. In a camera, in combination, exposure time control means; diaphragmmeans; manually operable exposure time setting means cooperating withsaid exposure time control means for manually setting the latter;manually operable diaphragm setting means cooperating with saiddiaphragm means for manually setting the latter; automatic meanscooperating with said exposure time control means and with saiddiaphragm means for automatically setting said exposure time controlmeans and said diaphragm means; a meter responsive to lightingconditions; support means supporting said meter for movement in itsentirety; pointer means moved by said meter to positions indicative ofthe lighting conditions; manually releasable scanning means cooperatingwith said pointer means for automatically moving, when released by theoperator, to a position determined by said pointer means and thereforealso indicative of tne lighting conditions; transmission means actuatedby said scanning means and cooperating with said automatic means fortransmitting movement of said scanning means to said automatic means tooperate the latter automatically for setting the exposure time anddiaphragm of the camera; a reference member; differential means actuatedby both of said manually operable means for bringing said referencemember into alignment with said pointer means so that said meter andpointer means contribute to the setting of the camera when the latter isset manually as well as when the camera is set automatically; andadditional manually operable means cooperating with said meter formoving the latter in its entirety with respect to said support means forsetting into the camera an exposure determining factor in addition tothe exposure time and exposure aperture.

8. In a camera, in combination, exposure time setting means; diaphragmmeans including a pair of rings at least one of which is turnable withrespect to the other for setting said diaphragm means; manually operableexposure time setting means cooperating with said exposure time controlmeans for manually setting the latter; manually operable diaphragmsetting means cooperating with one of said rings for turning the same toset the diaphragm; automatic means cooperating with said exposure timecontrol means for automatically setting the latter and cooperating withone of said rings of said diaphragm means for turning the latter ringfor setting said diaphragm means automatically; pointer means; a metercooperating with said pointer means for moving the latter to positionsindicative of the lighting conditions; manually releasable scanningmeans cooperating with said pointer means for moving, when released bythe operator, to positions determined by said pointer means so that saidscanning means will move also to a position indicative of the lightingconditions; transmission means actuated by said scanning means andcooperating with said automatic means for automatically moving thelatter to set the camera automatically; a reference member; anddifferential means actuated by both of said manually operable means andcooperating with said reference member for bringing said pointer meansand reference member into alignment with each other during operation ofeither one or both of said manually operable means.

9, In a camera, in combination, exposure time control means; diaphragmmeans including a pair of rings each of which is turnable with respectto the other for setting said diaphragm means; manually operable meanscooperating with said exposure time control means for manually settingthe latter; manually operable diaphragm setting means cooperating withone of said rings for turning said one ring to set the diaphragmmanually; automatic means cooperating with said exposure time controlmeans for automatically setting the latter and cooperating With theother one of said rings for turning said other ring to set the diaphragmmeans automatically; a meter responsive to lighting conditions; pointermeans moved by said meter to positions indicative of the lightingconditions; manually releasable scanning means movable when released bythe operator to positions determined by said pointer means so that saidscanning means also is indicative of lighting conditions; transmissionmeans transmitting movement of said scanning means to said automaticmeans for actuating the latter to set the camera automatically; areference member; and differential means actuated by both of saidmanually operable means and cooperating with said reference member forbringing said pointer means and reference member into alignment witheach other when the camera is manually set.

10. In a camera, in combination, exposure time control means; diaphragmmeans having a single rotary ring which is 'turnable for setting saiddiaphragm means; spring means cooperating with said single ring foryield ably maintaining the latter in a rest position where saiddiaphragm means provides the largest exposure aperture; manuallyoperable exposure time setting means with said exposure time controlmeans for manually setting the latter; manually operable diaphragmsetting means cooperating with said ring for manually turning the latterto set said diaphragm means manually; automatic means cooperating withsaid exposure time control means for automatically setting the latterand with said ring for turning the latter to set said diaphragm meansautomatically; a meter responsive to lighting conditions; pointer meansmoved by said meter to positions indicative of the lighting conditions;scanning means for scanning the position of said pointer means;transmission means transmitting movement of said scnaning means to saidautomatic means for actuating the latter to set the cameraautomatically; a reference member; and dilierential means actuated byboth of said manually operable means and cooperating with said referencemember for bringing said pointer means and reference member intoalignment with each other during manual setting of the camera.

11. In a camera, in combination, exposure time control means; diaphragmmeans; manually operable exposure time setting means cooperating withsaid exposure time control means for manually setting the latter andincluding a first ring turnable by the operator and having a cammingedge which actuates said exposure time control means; and automaticmeans cooperating with said exposure time control means forautomatically setting the latter and with said diaphragm means forautomatically setting the latter also, said automtaic means including asingle ring which forms part of said diaphragm means and sets the latterduring turning of said single ring and which also is formed with asecond camming edge which cooperates with said exposure time controlmeans to set the latter so that said single ring of said automatic meansforms a second ring for controlling the exposure time.

12. In a camera, in combination, exposure time control means; diaphragmmeans; manually operable exposure time setting means cooperating withsaid exposure time control means for manually setting the latter;manually operable diaphragm setting means cooperating with saiddiaphragm means for manually setting the latter; and automatic meanscooperating with said exposure time control means for automaticallysetting the latter and with said diaphragm means for automaticallysetting the latter, the assembly of all of said means including a pairof camming edges one of which controls the setting of said exposure timecontrol means and the other of which controls the setting of saiddiaphragm means, and each of said camming edges having an active portionwhich changes a setting and an inactive portion which has no influenceon a setting.

13. In a camera, in combination, exposure time control means; diaphragmmeans; manually operable exposure time setting means cooperating withsaid exposure time control means for manually setting the latter;manually operable diaphragm setting means cooperating with saiddiaphragm means for setting the latter; automatic means cooperating withsaid exposure time control means for automatically setting the latterand with said diaphragm means for automatically setting the latter, saidmanually operable exposure time setting means also setting the camerafor manual or automatic operation; and releasable lock means actuated bysaid manually operable exposure time setting means for releasablylocking said manually operable diaphragm setting means against manualoperation when said manually operable exposure time setting means setsthe camera for automatic operation.

14. In a camera as recited in claim 13, said manually operable exposuretime setting means and said manually operable diaphragm setting meansrespectively including a pair of coaxial manually turnable ringsrespectively having flanges directed toward each other and respectivelyformed at said flanges with notches which respectively form parts ofsaid lock means, said lock means further including a lever between saidflanges and turnable at end portions respectively into said notches,only said notch of said flange of said ring of said manually operableexposure time setting means having an inclined edge which engages saidlever during turning of said manually operable exposure time settingring for turning said lever out of the notch of said ring of saidmanually operable diaphragm setting means as well as for displacing saidlever from said notch of said ring of said manually operable exposuretime setting means, and said lock means including a spring urging saidlever to turn in a direction which urges end portions of said leverrespectively into said notch notches when the latter are aligned withsaid end portions of said lever.

15. In a camera, in combination, exposure time control means; diaphragmmeans; manually operable means cooperating with said exposure timecontrol means for automatically setting the latter; manually operablediaphragm setting means cooperating with said diaphragm means forautomatically setting the latter; automatic means cooperating with saidexposure time control means and with said diaphragm means forautomatically setting said exposure time control means and saiddiaphragm means, said manually operable exposure time setting means alsosetting the camera either for manual or automatic operation; and motiontransmitting means carried by said manually operable exposure timesetting means and cooperating with said manually operable diaphragmsetting means for moving the latter to a predetermined position whensaid manually operable exposure time setting means is moved to aposition setting the camera for automatic operation.

16. In a camera, in combination, exposure time control means; diaphragmmeans; manually operable exposure time setting means cooperating withsaid exposure time control means for manually setting the latter toprovide a predetermined exposure time, said manually operable exposuretime setting means also cooperating with said exposure time controlmeans to set the latter for an exposure determined manually by theoperator; manually operable diaphragm setting means cooperating withsaid diaphragm means for manually setting the latter; automatic meanscooperating with said exposure time control means and with saiddiaphragm means for automatically setting the exposure time and exposureaperture of the camera; a meter responsive to lighting conditions;pointer means moved by said meter to a position indicative of thelighting conditions; scanning means releasable by the operator forscanning the position of said pointer means so that said scanning meansassumes a position also indicative of the lighting conditions;transmission means transmitting movement of said scanning means to saidautomatic means for actuating the latter to automatically set thecamera; a reference member; and differential means actuated by both ofsaid manually operable means and cooperating with said reference memberfor bringing said pointer means and reference member into alignment witheach other. t

17. In a camera, in combination, exposure time control means operablethrough a given range of exposure times; diaphragm means; manuallyoperable exposure time setting means cooperating with said exposure timecontrol means for manually setting the latter throughout said range;manually operable diaphragm setting means cooperating with saiddiaphragm means for manually setting the latter; and automatic meanscooperating with said exposure time control means and with saiddiaphragm means for automatically setting said exposure time controlmeans and said diaphragm means, said automatic means including a cammingedge cooperating with said exposure time control means for setting thelatter for relatively short exposure times and said manually operableexposure time setting means including a camming edge cooperating withsaid exposure time control means for setting the latter for saidrelatively short exposure times as well as exposure times substantiallylonger than those provided by said automatic means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,913,969 Faulhaber Nov. 24, 1959 2,923,216 Greger Feb. 2, 19602,969,004 Gebele Jan. 24, 1961

1. IN A CAMERA, IN COMBINATION, EXPOSURE TIME CONTROL MEANS; DIAPHRAGMMEANS; MANUALLY OPERABLE EXPOSURE TIME SETTING MEANS COOPERATING WITHSAID EXPOSURE TIME CONTROL MEANS FOR MANUALLY SETTING THE LATTER;MANUALLY OPERABLE DIAPHRAGM SETTING MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAIDDIAPHRAGM MEANS FOR MANUALLY SETTING THE LATTER; AUTOMATIC MEANSCOOPERATING WITH SAID EXPOSURE TIME CONTROL MEANS AND WITH SAIDDIAPHRAGM MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY SETTING SAID EXPOSURE TIME CONTROLMEANS AND SAID DIAPHRAGM MEANS, BOTH OF SAID MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANSREMAINING STATIONARY DURING OPERATION OF SAID AUTOMATIC MEANS AND SAIDAUTOMATIC MEANS REMAINING STATIONARY DURING OPERATION OF EITHER ONE OFSAID MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS BY THE OPERATOR; METER MEANS HAVING APOINTER WHOSE POSITION IS INDICATIVE OF THE LIGHTING CONDITIONS, SAIDAUTOMATIC MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID METER MEANS TO HAVE ITS OPERATIONCONTROLLED BY SAID METER MEANS SO THAT